Quantcast
Channel: NBC Connecticut
Viewing all 57608 articles
Browse latest View live

Seasonal Hiring in Full Swing

0
0

The seasonal hiring frenzy continues with employers hoping to fill thousands of jobs ahead of the holiday rush, including UPS, which held nearly 170 job fairs around the country on Friday.

In a one-day hiring blitz, the UPS aimed to hire 40,000 seasonal employees.

UPS officials said they are looking for about 500 seasonal hires in Hartford and about 2,000 across the state.

"Me and my girl came this morning over here after we dropped the kids off at school, and they gave me my interview," said Miguel Burgos of Hartford.

The full and part-time positions include package handlers, drivers and drivers-helpers, paying anywhere between $10.35 an hour to $30.

"I have bills and I have responsibilities and I’m a student," said Erica Clarke, also of Hartford.

And with just weeks until Black Friday retailers such as Nordstrom are ramping up their staff.

"I call it our Super Bowl because that’s when we have the most foot traffic and we need to be prepared," said Thao Nguyen, Human Resources Coordinator at Nordstrom Westfarms.

Nordstrom Westfarms hoped to fill 25 positions on Friday, ranging from sales to beauty.

"We have these hiring events because we definitely strive for diversity and we want to see what types of talent is out there," said Nguyen.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

[NATL Couple Captures Incredible Landing of Plane on SoCal Freeway

0
0

A San Diego-area couple was heading to a routine medical appointment when they captured video of a small plane landing right in front them on Interstate 8 in El Cajon. CHP officers say it's a miracle no one was injured.

Migrants Storm Through Guatemala Border to Mexico

0
0

Thousands of migrants from Central America gathered at the Guatemala-Mexico border Friday. After several broke the Guatemalan fence, the migrants rushed through the entry way to attempt to enter Mexico.

'A Special Day': Dozens Sworn in as U.S. Citizens

0
0

It has been a long journey for dozens of newly naturalized American citizens.

Carlos Daza came to the United States from Bolivia when he was just 3 years old.

“It’s an honor to be at the ceremony today especially among veterans it’s been a long process,” Daza said.

Daza has been a member of the Connecticut National Guard for the past two years.

On Friday he took an oath, got his certificate and pin— becoming a citizen of the United States. It’s a dream he’s had since he was a kid.

“I’ve always wanted to be a citizen first of all, but most importantly serve my country, he said. “The army gave me that opportunity.”

The ceremony was hosted by members of the Elks Club in Middletown.

“I’m a veteran, and you see all the other veterans here. It means a lot to them knowing that they would choose to be part of our military service I want to become citizens,” said William Currlin, chairman of Veterans Committee for the Elks Club. “Every time I think about it, I get a tear in my eye.”

It was not just veterans becoming Americans. There are people from places like Albania, Uganda, and Vietnam. More than 50 people from nearly 30 different countries were sworn in as citizens.

“This is a very special day for me,” I really feel like I am part of the country today.”

Anna Kiernozek, who is originally from Poland, said she’ll cast her first ballot in a few weeks on Election Day.

“I have a responsibility to vote and I would really like to vote,” she said.

Ned Lamont Releases Tax Returns

0
0

Democratic nominee for governor Ned Lamont released his tax returns Friday.

The Greenwich businessman has paid millions in taxes in the last five years. Lamont reported federal income totaling nearly $18 million over the past five years – which is 253 times the median household income in Connecticut.

Lamont paid the highest effective tax rates in Connecticut and at the federal level. He went above and beyond when it came to charitable donations – donating $2.46 million to a host of causes. His campaign provided a list of 20, many of which are all over the state of Connecticut and beyond, like the Boys and Girls Club of Hartford and former Vice President Joe Biden’s cancer initiative.

Overall, he paid $1.3 million in state income taxes since 2013, and $3.4 million in federal income taxes over the same period.

It wasn’t all a perfect picture – he did report $1.3 million in losses over the past five years, and this is only a look at Ned’s filings – his wife Ann filed separately.

Republican Bob Stefanowski said of Lamont’s taxes, “I don't begrudge Ned for inheriting his fortune, however, it seems to have put him out of touch with the needs of the hard-working people of Connecticut's middle class.”

Unaffiliated candidate Oz Griebel released his taxes weeks ago. Stefankowski has yet to release his. He has told NBC Connecticut he would, and his spokesperson told the Hartford Courant three weeks ago that they would release them in three weeks. On Friday, the spokesman said they were working on it.

Hurricane Dogs Hope for New Homes in Connecticut

0
0

This weekend a big pet adoption event is aiming to find homes for many animals, including some displaced after Hurricane Florence in the Carolinas.

Some of these dogs have come thousands of miles in search of loving homes.

Dogs have been arriving at the Paws Pet Resort and Spa in Cheshire by the truckload.

“We donated the space instantly. She came down and looked at it. It was just the ideal situation. We have plenty of space, plenty of parking, bedrooms for the dogs. It’s a home run,” explained owner Joe Whitright.

The business is working with Dogs Days, a non-profit rescue organization based in Connecticut.

“We are an umbrella for a bunch of different rescues. We pull dogs from Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina,” explained Dog Days worker Michele Fredericks.

They’re hoping to find homes for about 50 dogs. There’s a greater need this year, after the devastation in the Carolinas from Hurricane Florence last month.

“It’s overwhelming. We can’t take all the dogs we’ve gotten calls for. I’ve never seen this many calls for this many dogs without having a home to go to. We would love to take everybody,” Fredericks said.

Dog Days relies heavily on fundraising and donations.

Volunteers work hard to bring in the funds needed.

“From the Hamburg fair fundraiser and the can drive fundraiser it was $3,505,” explained volunteer Hannah Morrison.

Dog Days does screenings before pet adoption, to make sure they’re always finding the right fit for families and the pets.

“It’s a big commitment, number one. You have to have the right time of home and not every dog suits you,” Fredericks said.

The adoption event runs Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 312 East Johnson Ave. in Cheshire. For more information, visit the Dog Days website.

NBC Connecticut is always working to help animals find their forever homes through our Clear the Shelters initiative.

Feds Release Recommendations on Crumbling Foundations

0
0

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Friday released the findings of a year-long study making short and long-term recommendations on the crumbling foundations issue that has affected hundreds of homeowners in Connecticut.

The issue was brought to light by NBC Connecticut Investigates several years ago.

Gov. Dannel Malloy asked the US Army Corps Of Engineers to study low-cost testing options for homeowners, creating standards for quarry testing and recommendations for homeowners with crumbling basements. 

They recommend the legislature implement regulations that more than one percent of sulfur be rejected from any concrete aggregate. They also advise regulating our state quarries, and creating standardized testing so data is consistent from labs across the board.

A state investigation found a quarry in Willington contained pyrrhotite, which experts believe can cause concrete basements to crack when exposed to air and water. The agency also suggested newer tests for homeowners too.

“There’s nobody looking at how we’d go about repairing these homes and we’ve got to get a grasp on that,” said Christopher M. Moore of the U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers. “What we’d like to say is for every 25,000 tons of material that leave the quarry it should be tested.”

“Without standards people could test all kinds of things or doing tests in different ways that might drive the costs up," Malloy said.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal also attended the meeting Friday and threw his support behind homeowners.

"These national standards will give us evidence-based, science-supported standards we need to make our case in Washington to show these homeowners in Connecticut need relief now, either from FEMA or other federal agencies or insurance companies that have still left homeowners in lurch," he said.

Homeowners were pleased to hear the recommendations but are looking for more immediate solutions to their crumbling foundations.

“This will help people down the road in the future, but I don’t understand the immediate fix for those of us in the midst of the problem,” said Cynthia Estancia, whose Manchester home has a crumbling basement.

These recommendations would still have to be adopted by lawmakers.

Crash Leaves Ambulance Overturned in Hartford

0
0

Emergency crews are on scene at an accident involving an overturned ambulance in Hartford Friday night.

It happened at the intersection of Woodland Street and Homestead Avenue. It was not immediately clear if anyone was hurt. Police remain on scene.

NBC Connecticut has a crew on scene and will provide updates as they come into the newsroom.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

99-Year-Old WWII Veteran Gets Home Repaired For Free

0
0

A show of appreciation for a deserving World War II veteran in Southington as House of Heroes stepped in again, for a 108th time, to make the 99-year-old's day a little easier.

From yard work to window repairs to building a handicap ramp, about two dozen volunteers spent the day on Saturday at the Southington home of World War II veteran Nicholas Lanteri.

”Here we are today at our 108th home, like you said, helping out a World War II, greatest generation veteran. It just couldn’t be more special,” said Dennis Buden, the Executive Director of House of Heroes Connecticut.

The 99-year-old New Britain native was drafted in 1943.

”He followed Patton’s army from Normandy through the war in France up to the Battle of the Bulge,” said Paul Lanteri, Nicholas's son.

The Connecticut chapter of the House of Heroes has been serving veterans since 2012 doing free, one-day home repairs to make the day-to-day more manageable.

"We’re not someone that comes in or an organization that comes in and builds a new home for someone, for example. We focus on more conservative type of fix-up projects that really make day-to-day life more easy,” Buden added.

And they couldn't do it without the generosity of volunteers. For this project, the Newington-based company PCX Aerostructures stepped in for a fifth time.

"PCX supplies components for military helicopters, and we really have a close tie with the army community and, especially, army aviation, and it’s an opportunity for us to give back to veterans who have sacrificed so much,” said Trevor Hartman, the Vice President of Sales for PCX Aerostructures.

Nick Lanteri's son tells NBC Connecticut that he and his father are overwhelmed by the support.

"He’s aware of what’s happening and he’s grateful, but he’s kind of a shy kind of guy, so he doesn’t want a lot of attention and a lot of hubbub about himself,” Paul Lanteri said.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut
This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Cold Front Brings Blast of Cold, Wind to End Weekend

0
0

The First Alert Weather Team is tracking a big change in the weekend forecast.

Saturday will feature a blend of sun and clouds and a breezy southwesterly wind. Temperatures will reach the low 60s in many towns.

A strong cold front will move through this evening with a scattered shower and gusty winds.

Sunday will feature wind gusts that could top 40 mph along with colder temps in the 40s. Wind chills will be in the 30s for much of the day. Wind gusts near 40 mph are enough to cause some small tree limbs to come down and some scattered power outages.

Quieter weather returns for Monday with a moderating temperature into the 50s. Much of next week is looking quiet and cool.

Emergency Crews Respond to Industrial Accident in Hartford

0
0

Emergency crews are responding to an industrial accident in Hartford on Saturday morning.

Police said the accident involved heavy machinery and happened at a business on Murphy Road shortly before 11 a.m.

Officers said one person is injured, but the extent of his or her injuries is unknown. The person is being transported to the hospital.

This is a developing story. NBC Connecticut will update this story as details come into the newsroom.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Dancing Scarecrows Win 'Prettiest Scarecrow Award' at Suffield Scarecrow Contest

0
0

A duet of dancing scarecrows won the Prettiest Scarecrow Award at the Suffield Scarecrow Contest on Saturday. NBC Connecticut's Alessandra Martinez was the emcee for the event, which was part of "Scare-It-Up Suffield" and featured scarecrows, halloween make-up and live animals.

Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

CT Transit Drivers Demand Bathroom Access

0
0

CT Transit workers are keeping up the fight for more frequent bathroom breaks. A group rallied in downtown Hartford Friday morning demanding more stops and access to restrooms.

Members of the local Amalgamated Transit Union said there is often no time or place to find a restroom on their routes. Some drivers said they avoid drinking water before or during their shift. Others said they have even resorted to wearing adult diapers on the job.

“DOT needs to really step up and start building some bathrooms and take ownership of the property and take care of their workers, their employees,” said Ralph Buccitti, Business Agent Financial Secretary for Local 281.

NBC Connecticut Investigates was first to expose the behavior of another CT Transit driver, who was caught on surveillance camera urinating on the side of a busy street next to his bus while he was on duty. Bus drivers said the incident was a prime example of the lack of adequate restroom facilities.

“Our bus drivers, our transit workers are spending all day long taking people where they need to go,” said Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin, who attended the rally on Friday. “They deserve the chance to get off the bus and use the restroom when they need to do it.”

CT Transit employees from across Connecticut, union members and local leaders held a similar rally in June to demand better bathroom access after an NBC Connecticut Investigates report found that some drivers do not have access to adequate restroom facilities on all of their bus routes.

In response, the bus company was in the process of creating a "bathroom committee” with management and drivers working together to address the problem.

Damaged Plane Makes Emergency Landing at Sikorsky Memorial Airport

0
0

Incredible video captured the moment a small plane made an emergency landing in Stratford on Saturday.

Miraculously everyone is okay who was on the L-39 Albatros, a military-type jet.

First responders raced to Sikorsky Memorial Airport after receiving the call the aircraft was in trouble.

“After we got into position, tower directed him to land. The pilot did a great job. He dropped it down on its belly and did a spectacular job getting it down safely,” said Deputy Chief Ron Rolfe, Bridgeport Fire.

Amazingly firefighters tell us the two people on-board were able to get out themselves and are okay.

They were met on the runway by emergency responders from the airport, Stratford and Bridgeport.

“This was really an excellent collaboration of the mutual aid response. This really could not have gone any better,” said Michelle Muoio, airport manager.

Airport staff reveal the plane despite its Navy markings is privately owned.

During takeoff from Sikorsky, we’re told the experienced pilot realized the plane had apparently lost a piece of its landing gear, circled until emergency crews were ready and then pulled off the tricky landing.

The FAA will investigate and try to figure out what went wrong.

The airport hopes to open the runway as soon as possible.



Photo Credit: DoingItLocal.com

Tribal Police Respond to Stabbing at Foxwoods Casino Outlets

0
0

Mashantucket Tribal Police responded to a stabbing incident at the Tanger Outlet Mall at Foxwoods Casino Saturday afternoon. 

According to police, the incident involved four people, and three of those people were transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. 

A 15-year-old suspect connected to the incident was arrested and taken into custody. 

"The incident was immediately contained, with no lockdown needed and regular business quickly resumed," Mashantucket Tribal Police Department Captain George Potts wrote in a statement. 

A spokesperson for Foxwoods Casino issued the following statement on the incident:

"We want to express our gratitude to our onsite first reponders for their professionalism and rapid response, which effectively contained the incident and ensured safety and security for our guests, tenants and employees. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those involved with or affected by this incident, and we continue to work closely with Mashantucket Tribal Police throughout this investigation."


Kmart Manager Delivers Emotional Farewell During Store's Final Closing

0
0

For 18 years, the Kmart in McMurray, Pennsylvania, was like home for Joshua Englert.

He was 16 years old when he first started helping shoppers at the discount retailer's location near Pittsburgh. But last Sunday, the store's BlueLight went dark and the last sale was made.

To thank shoppers and the staff, Englert, now a store manager, dialed into the intercom one last time and delivered an emotional goodbye.

"I wanted to take this opportunity not to sell you 40-cent plaid skirts or 5-cent panties, but to instead thank you for supporting a lifetime of memories," Englert said as he choked up.

"I am the man I am today because of the people I have met here at Kmart," he added.

Englert recorded the message on his smartphone and posted the video to facebook. The reaction was huge with the video garnering more than 100,000 views and 1,000 reactions as of Saturday.

"I did not think I was going to be choked up like that," Englert told NBC News in an interview Saturday.

"I always use the intercom to announce specials and make sales announcement and I’m sort of known for adding some fun to them, so I thought on the last day the associates would appreciate me saying something sentimental. I didn’t know what I was going to say five minutes before I said it," Englert said.

Kmart has battled tectonic changes in the retail landscape over the past two decades. Once the second-largest discount retailer, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2002 and merged with Sears in 2004. The tumult resulted in the shedding of stores like Englert's location.

A second bankruptcy filing this month means even more Kmart and Sears stores are being shuttered.

Englert said while the community is sad to see their local store close, they "understand the business of it all."

As for Englert, he's started looking for a new job, but the people he bonded with at Store #4770 will always have a special place in his heart.

"We were definitely a family," he said. "Those relationships, that’s all what keeps us together is each other."



Photo Credit: Joshua Englert

Man Asks Social Media for Help to Find Mystery Couple in Yosemite Photo

0
0

A Michigan photographer is asking for the collective power of the internet to help him find a couple of whom he took a stunning picture in what he believes was the moment they got engaged at Yosemite National Park. 

Matthew Dippel tweeted the photo, saying he took it at Taft Point at Yosemite on Oct. 6. "Twitter help, idk who these two are but I hope this finds them," he wrote. 

The image is jaw-droppingly incredible, capturing the moment the man gets down on one knee and takes the woman's hand. They're standing on a cliff, nothing around them except the park's majestic mountains. 

The tweet has had more than 192,000 likes and 86,000 retweets since it was posted Wednesday afternoon. As of early Friday, Dippel still had not found the couple, according to an updated post below the photo. 

Dippel, who was on a road trip and hike adventure with his pal at the time he captured the moment, told NBC's Grand Rapids affiliate WOOD-TV that he posted similar messages on Facebook and Instagram to no avail. 

"Honestly I'd like to give them just a big print of the photo because it's such an incredible moment,” he told WOOD-TV.



Photo Credit: Matthew Dippel
This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Woman Harasses Family for Speaking Spanish in Va. Restaurant

0
0

A Latina woman was with family visiting from Guatemala when she says they were verbally harassed by a white woman for conversing in Spanish at a Virginia restaurant.

The family was confronted inside Andy’s restaurant in Lovettsville.

"She asked for passports; she said that she knew everybody in Loudoun County to get us out of here, and she started saying that we were supposed to speak English, but I'm like 'we’re not talking to you,'" said the victim, who asked to remain anonymous. "They're here visiting and they don’t know English, so how do you want them to speak English when they’re here just visiting?"

Part of the incident was caught on video.

“You don’t freeload in this f------ country,” the woman is heard saying on the video. “You get the f--- out, back to your f------ country.” 

Police were called but no charges were filed.

The owner of the restaurant said the woman who harassed the family is not welcome back.

The Spanish-speaking victim said her 7-year-old daughter was present during the profanity-laced attack. She told Telemundo 44 that she is sharing her story because of her daughter and hopes that other victims of bias-motivated harassment also speak out.  

"It's not fair that they do this to us, and even less acceptable if there are children present. It's not fair for any child to have to go through that. You just don't do that," the woman added.

Trump May Have Lost His Bet on Saudi Prince MBS

0
0

On Friday the Saudi government finally admitted that writer Jamal Khashoggi had died inside its Istanbul consulate, saying he had been killed in a fight.

From the outset of his presidency, Trump has offered a warm embrace to Saudi Arabia and its ambitious royal heir, Mohammed bin Salman, believing he could help the U.S. confront Iran in the Middle East.

But the gamble appears to have backfired badly, experts and former officials tell NBC News, with the young prince now implicated in the killing of Khashoggi, who dared to criticize the regime.



Photo Credit: AP/Evan Vucci, File

'Chaos': 30 Injured After Floor Collapses During Party in SC

0
0

A party turned to "chaos" early Sunday when the floor of a clubhouse near Clemson university collapsed and left 30 people injured, police said.

Authorities were called about 12:30 a.m. to The Woodlands Apartments clubhouse in South Carolina after the building's first story floor gave way during a private party with Clemson University students and others. Chief of Police Jimmy Dixon described the scene as "chaos."

Video posted to social media showed people dancing before the floor caved in and crashed to the next level of the structure, leaving a large hole in the middle of the room. Dozens of people fell through while many still standing looked on or recorded the incident with their phones. People could be heard shouting and screaming in the footage.

Thirty people sustained non-life threatening injuries including fractures, broken bones and lacerations. Those injured were taken to local hospitals by Clemson University emergency services. Police said there were no entrapments.

"We're just thankful that it was not any worse than it was," Dixon told reporters.

The investigation is ongoing, and Dixon said the building's codes and structure will be evaluated.

Clemson sophomore Larissa Stone told the Independent Mail of Anderson that the room was "packed" and a popular song was playing when the floor collapsed.

"So everyone was jumping. The beat was about to drop and literally the whole floor collapsed," she said. "It happened so quickly. I stood up, and everyone was trying to climb out. People are under other people. People are hurt. People are bleeding. I had blood on my sneakers. It was really bad."

A witness who attended the party said people were jumping when he heard a sudden "boom."

"All you seen was falling, everybody's hands up in the air," Franzie Pendergrass told WYFF News 4.

Leroy Pearson said he went to try to help injured people and saw what he thought looked like broken ankles and legs.

"It was crazy," Pearson said.

Property manager Tal Slann told The Associated Press that the condominium complex was built in 2004-2005. He said he could not comment on whether there was a limit on the number of people who were supposed to use the clubhouse at one time.

"I can tell you there was a party. I can tell you there was a floor collapse. There were injuries. They were not life-threatening. Nobody was trapped," he said.

Slann sent residents of The Woodlands an email saying the floor in front of the clubhouse fireplace had collapsed during a party.

"The Clubhouse and pool area is OFF LIMITS to all," said a copy of the email texted to the AP. "The clubhouse will be inspected by structural engineers as soon as possible. From there, the homeowner's association will determine how to rebuild the clubhouse to make it safe for all residents. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who were injured and we apologize for any inconvenience."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Viewing all 57608 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images